I’m Sensing a Pattern Here: Structure-Function Relationship of Materials

One of the core ideas of material science is that structure dictates function. The macroscopic properties which arise from a material’s molecular composition aid in determining its potential applications. Yet, material science is often taught from two ends of a spectrum in traditional science classes. The first exposure comes through biology and chemistry, in which students learn about the intermolecular forces within a structure. The second is in physics, where students learn the macroscopic effects of molecular structure through the model of friction. This ETP intends to bridge the gap between molecular structure and macroscopic properties. Through a two-day sequence, students will practice a fundamental skill in crystallography by identifying the base repeating unit in a pattern in order to build up to creating their own tessellation. They will then extend their knowledge by exploring the existence of moire unit cells, which arise from the interference of two very similar repeating patterns. Finally, the learning sequence will culminate in an engineering challenge where students simulate the mechanical properties of a new material by designing a particular unit cell and investigating the composite structure’s compressive strength.